“What? No. I just like to keep my options open.”
Kirk looked unconvinced.
“Who are you to lecture me on commitment anyway? The last time I checked, you were just as bad as I was at keeping a steady relationship.”
“What are you talking about? Kiki and I have a very healthy relationship!”
“Your cat does not count.”
“Of course it does.” He finished off his glass of champagne, already looking for a refill. “We’ve been going steady for two years now!”
As he did so, I scanned the crowd. No one really perked my attention. Even Taylor Swift dressed as a Unicorn didn’t really phase me.
“Spot anyone worth trying to catch?” Kirk asked, popping one of the spider legs into his mouth.
“Not yet, but just you wait. By the end of the night, I’ll have the hottest girl around my pinky finger.”
“You sure you don’t want her wrapped around something else…?”
“Oh, I think you know, that for me, it’s always tea time.” I winked.
Chapter 5
ESSIE
“I refuse to go in there.” Ebony dug her feet into the ground, trying to stop me from dragging her any further into the mosh pit of people that had gathered on the dancefloor.
I stopped, looking annoyed. “If you aren’t going to dance, what are you going to do instead?”
“We just passed a pretty nice library. I think I’m going to check it out.”
“Don’t tell me that you came to the Graves’ Estate Annual Halloween Ball to visit their library.”
“What’s so wrong with that? Hell, I’ll even read a scary story from Edgar Allen Poe if that makes you feel better. How about Tell Tale Heart? There’s some dismemberment in there. Maybe I’ll go read it in the kitchen under all those hanging body parts.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re hopeless.”
“If you say so.” She shrugged, turning on her heels and disappearing down the hallway.
Sometimes, she could be so lame.
Refusing to let her sour my mood, I melted into the crowd of sweaty bodies. The floor vibrated underfoot as a remix of Thriller blasted through the speakers. In the middle of the room, a group of werewolves and vampires were dancing in perfect sync. Suddenly, ablack Michael Jackson slid into place, snapping his head to the side, initiating the main dance.
A circle formed around them, clapping to the beat. I watched their performance, wondering if they were random guests or professional dancers the Grave brothers had hired to put on a show.
The song faded to an end before the theme music from Halloween built up to a spooky crescendo. I glanced over my shoulder, half expecting Jason to come jumping out of the shadows.
Instead, the DJ slipped on a hockey mask just as soon as the song hit its drop. Everyone started to bounce and grind into one another. I was quick to join them.
Beside me was a sexy police officer. I grabbed him by the belt, pulling him closer. “Is that your nightstick in your pocket or are you just happy to see me…?” I asked, a grin on my face.
His hands rested on my hips, his fingers holding on a bit too tightly.
“Come on, officer, don’t you want to check if I’m concealing any illegal substances?” I pressed my body to his but still, he didn’t react. He was much too stiff, and not in a good way.
“Bill! What the hell are you doing?” Someone dressed as Ariel stepped between us, the color of her cheeks matching her fake wig. “Get off my man!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, we didn’t even do anything,” I said, holding up my hands in innocence. “Doesn’t matter anyway because I rather go swimming in a pool of scorpions than hang out with him.”
Ariel just gaped at me, unable to respond.
I ventured deeper into the dance floor, submerging myself in the heart of it. Here, even more couples were grinding together and making out. I cringed, about to walk away when I caught someone’s eye.
He was dressed as the Mad Hatter. Fitting.
I waved at him, hoping he was available. From what I could tell, he looked cute. Probably the cutest guy I had seen all night.
As he weaved his way through the crowd to get to me, I was surprised to find that it was none other than Allen Grave.
“Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have our tea first?” he asked, bowing down graciously, offering me a white-gloved hand.
“Oh, definitely adventure first…” I whispered. “Let’s go down the rabbit hole together.” I winked, wrapping my arms around his neck.
Naturally, his hands fell to my ass, squeezing my cheeks under powerful fingers. “Have I gone mad?” he asked as he leaned down, letting his lips trail along the side of my neck, kissing me with a soft, gentle touch that made me shiver all over. He blew a strand of my hair out of the way before his lips continued to my collarbone, sucking on the hollow space between them. “Because…” He looked up, his bright hazel eyes almost golden as they locked with mine. “I think you might just be the most beautiful girl at this party…”
I blushed deeply. I couldn’t believe that Allen Grave had complimented me. “I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers,” I whispered, letting our faces slowly gravitate together.
His scent wafted up to my nose. It was a pleasant mint, probably from his body wash. At the thought, my mind wandered, picturing him inside his shower, hands lathering in the soap until he was nice and slippery. My fantasy intensified as I imagined myself joining him. Maybe he would push me against the wall and ravish me or maybe he’d gently massage my body, kissing my every inch, before he finally got down to his knees…
I breathed in deep and opened my eyes, a smirk playing on my lips. “I’ll tell you a secret, all the best people are…” I pursed my lips together like I was about to kiss him but at the very last minute, I pulled away, resting my head on his shoulder as a slow song came on.
“Oh, you may be dressed as innocent Alice, but something tells me you’re a vixen.” He growled into my ear before nibbling on my lobe. “But I can tell you a secret as well. It’s never safe to tempt a man who is as mad as a hatter and twice as twisted.”
Chapter 6
ALLEN
I held Alice close, our hips locked together. The scent of her shampoo nearly drove me insane. A mix between strawberry and vanilla. Sweet and sexy. I could barely control myself from taking a bite out of her right then and there.
As we continued to dance, I thought about her in my bed, a bowl of strawberries on the nightstand, a bottle of whipped cream in my hand. It would be messy, of course, but I always wanted to experiment with the idea. I could lick the whipped cream right off her perky nipples. Follow a trail of strawberries to her cute little pussy. Tease her a bit. And then, taste her right from the source.
Just thinking about it caused the blood from my head to rush between my legs. Alice was rubbing her ass against my crotch and I had no doubt that she could feel the growing hard-on I was sporting. I wrapped my arms around her tapered waist, imagining my hands sneaking under the folds of her dress, making her moan right there on the dancefloor.
Her body was like candy, melting against mine. Her every curve was succulent and delicious. A part of me wanted to whisk her off the dance floor so I could admire her properly.
The song ended and I took my opportunity, leaning down so I could whisper into her ear. “Hey, how about we sneak out of here and get ourselves a couple of drinks?”
“Mmm, you read my mind.” She giggled, lacing her fingers with mine.
I squeezed her hand, guiding her through the crowd. Effortlessly, I navigated through the mansion’s main floor until I reached the kitchen. Unlike the start of the party, it was now stuffed with people enjoying the blood punch. “Let me just get us our drinks and then we can go somewhere a little more… private.”
“I like the sound of that.”
I hesitated to leave her, thinking that someone would snatch her up while I was
gone. Quickly, I hunted down one of the staff, grabbing two glasses of Cheval Blanc. When I returned, Alice was in the same spot, leaning against the wall, her bright blue eyes sparkling like a pair of diamonds.
“Did you miss me?” I asked, handing her a glass.
“Perhaps,” she answered in a playful tone, the corners of her lips twitching with amusement. “Now, about that private little getaway of ours…”
“Of course,” I answered, wrapping my arm around her waist and guiding her out of the kitchen. “Elevator or stairs?”
“You have an elevator?” She was unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.
“Did you expect me to climb three flights of stairs every time I want to go to my bedroom?”
“Oh? Is that where you’re taking me?” She leaned heavily on me, her chin resting on my shoulder, her lips just barely grazing the side of my neck. “Because I would like that. I would like it a lot…”
“Would you now?” I raised an eyebrow in interest. Excitement bubbled within me at the implications of her request.
“Certainly…” The word rolled off her tongue in such a smooth, honey-like way that I nearly lost all control and kissed her right then and there. Her soft pink lips called out for mine in a manner that was difficult to resist. But, I held back, wanting to have my fun with her first. Make her want me so badly that she would be begging for it by the end of the night.
“Well, then, right this way.” I pressed my hand into the small of her back, guiding her toward the elevators. There, one of the staff was dressed as a zombie butler.
“Sir.” He nodded his head in my direction.
“Top floor.”
The zombie once again nodded his head before pressing the call button. We waited a few moments before the doors slid open. “Would you like me to accompany you to the top?”
“No, I can handle it from here.” I stepped inside, bringing Alice along with me. The second the doors closed, I pushed her up against the wall, my fingers locking around her wrists, pinning her into place.
She gasped, looking up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes.
I smirked at her reaction before leaning down and biting the sweet, warm skin of her neck.
A soft moan escaped her lips as she tilted her head back.
I sucked on her skin before finally pulling away, leaving behind a pronounced hickey. “You’re lucky I’m not a vampire.” I teased, running my fingers along the already bruising skin. “Or you’d have to be my companion for all eternity.”
“How long is forever?” she asked, her lips so close to mine that I could feel her hot breath. Oh, how badly I wanted to kiss her… to slip my tongue into her mouth… to taste how sweet she really was… But, I forced myself to wait, knowing she would be sweetest when the time was ripe.
“Sometimes, just one second.”
“Then, we better make that second count.” She leaned forward, about to close the distance between our lips when the elevator dinged.
She jumped, ruining the moment she had planned to create.
“Come,” I said, holding out my hand.
I brought her to the piano room, situated adjacent to my bedroom.
“I thought we were going to your room…” She pouted slightly, looking unimpressed. She let go of my hand as she walked up to a large window at the back of the room. “This room isn’t even decorated…”
As she stood there, I took a moment to admire her profile, outlined by the soft moonlight that filtered through the window panes. Her golden hair ran down her back in tight ringlets, all the way to her voluptuous ass. Her waistline was tapered, giving her an intoxicatingly sexy hourglass figure. Under the skirt of her dress, I imagined she had long, silky smooth legs. I could almost feel them underneath my fingertips.
Unable to stay away from her any longer, I crossed the room within a few strides. I hugged her from behind, filling my lungs with her sweet scent. I peered out the window, gazing at the fake cemetery that had been erected for the party. The fog rolled over the tombs, adding to their spookiness. Gretchen had really outdone herself with the decorations this year.
“So, should we properly introduce ourselves?” I asked as I pulled her onto the window seat. I thought about sitting her on my lap but I didn’t want to push things just yet.
“You don’t have to introduce yourself.” She twirled her glass between her fingers, watching the wine before she looked up at me. Our eyes locked. “You’re Allen Grave. The cutest of the Grave brothers.”
I smirked, feeling my ego inflate. I was starting to like this woman more and more with each passing minute. “You flatter me.”
“I’m just glad that you didn’t paint your face.” She placed a hand on my cheek, her thumb caressing my skin. “Would have been a shame to cover up something so perfect.”
“Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself?” I countered, moving a little closer. Accidentally, my hand brushed against her bare thigh. It was only then that I noticed the deep slit of her dress. If I had known, I would have made good use of it while we were on the dancefloor.
“Positive. I pale in comparison.”
“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong,” I whispered, pinning a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Her cheeks colored at my compliment. It was adorable. A part of me just wanted to grab her by the face and kiss her all over.
She shook her head. Somehow, this gorgeous woman was also modest, a trait that seemed nonexistent these days. “In any case, my name is Essie Rose.”
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
She smiled, a row of straight white teeth coming into view. I couldn’t understand how this woman was so perfect. It was like she had been pulled right out of my dreams.
“If you’re going to start quoting Shakespeare, I better find my sister. She’ll fall in love with you in a heartbeat.”
“You have a sister?” I immediately thought she was talking about a twin. I imagined myself sandwiched between two beautiful blondes, one on each arm.
“Yeah, but trust me, she’s the most boring person you’ll ever meet.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“I’m being serious. She’s all work, no play. And, when she does have some free time to waste, she’ll spend it reading. Every single time. I’ll ask her if she wants to go do something with me and she’ll always say no.”
“She sounds exactly like my brother.” I shook my head. “We should introduce them.”
“Well, she’s already off in some library, maybe they’ve already met.”
“You’re probably right.” I laughed. “Though, if I had to guess, Chris wouldn’t even notice her. He’s rather oblivious when it comes to beautiful women. He’s nothing like me.”
“I’m not so sure…” She put down her glass of wine before grabbing me by the collar, pulling me toward her. “Because you promised me your bedroom and all I got was some lousy piano.”
“Lousy piano?” I repeated. “I’ll have you know that this is a Steinway Alma Tadema. The most expensive piano in the world.”
She faked a yawn.
To prove my point, I got up and sat down in front of the keys.
Essie watched me with interest, her eyebrow raising slightly. “What are you doing?”
I didn’t bother to answer her as I wiggled my fingers, loosening my joints. Gently, I ran the pads of my fingers over the ivory pieces. It had been over a week since I had played. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and allowed my fingers to dance along the scales in a practice run.
Essie sat down beside me, one leg crossed over the other. Her slender fingers hovered over the keys for a moment before she played a snippet of Arabesque.
I grinned, jumping off her notes and continuing the song.
Soon, we were playing together in perfect harmony. The air around us seemed to buzz with energy, making my heart thump.
As the song came to an end, she turned and looked at me. She leaned toward me, her eyes closed.
I closed mine as well, my heart beating faster as it prepared for an earth-shattering kiss.
“Ahh!”
Crash!
Chapter 7
ESSIE
I jumped at the sound of the blood-curdling scream. “What the hell was that?” I asked, the hair on the back of my neck standing on edge. “Did someone just get murdered?”
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